Two saddlers...two very different opinions

[Charla]

I've had two saddlers out in the last 4 months for my gelding and they have given very different opinions on the fitting of my saddle. Both saddlers are known and highly recommended in my area. I know horses can change shape but the last saddler agrees there is no way he could have changed shape that much....so the first one told me my gelding needed an extra wide gullet and that the flocking is fine. The saddler 4 months on said it was one of the worst fitting saddles he had seen. Said he needed a medium gullet and completely moving the flocking around and added a lot. Saddle does now feel a lot more secure as it was previously quite wobbly. Although my horse did take off with me in canter after re-fitting saddle which he's never done before. It worried me that he could be uncomfortable? He's not drastically lost or put on weight by any means over the last 4 months. I will see how he now goes in his saddle but the saddler has warned me he could well be bruised and sore from how the saddle was fitted! Has anyone else experienced this? I feel I have lost some confidence in professionals!

 

[goldenmint]

I feel for you it's awful trying to get saddles sorted at the best of time, but when two professionals can't agree it's a nightmare!

I have to say if the horse took off with me while trying a new/re flocked saddle and didn't normally behave that way I would be worried that something isn't fitting right.

Has his behaviour changed since new saddle? I suppose he could be sore from old saddle but was he showing signs of being uncomfortable or sore with old saddle? If so surely he would have been running off with you before?

Don't know, but either way I hope you get it sorted maybe post some piccies on here and see what others think to the fit before and after.

 

[Phoebe]

Well...if new one has gone down 2 gullet sizes and been stuffed more that's a pretty significantly tighter closer fitted saddle.... Could it be pinching? You could try posting some pics? Heck.... I don't think id be happy either....

 

[Charla]

I will ride him again tonight and see how he goes. He seemed ok with the previous saddle but I called out the saddler as he started to get 2 very small rub patches at the back end of the saddle! I also noticed he was swishing his tail alot when riding in the newly fitted saddle, something he does when he's unhappy. I will post some photos of new fitting at the weekend when I have day light thanks!